Neural time course of emotional conflict control: an ERP study

Previous imaging studies have revealed brain mechanisms associated with emotional conflict control. However, the neural time course remains largely unknown. Therefore, in the present study a face-word Stroop task was used to explore the electrophysiological correlates of emotional conflict control by using event-related potentials (ERPs). Behavioral data indicated that response time of congruent condition was faster than incongruent condition, while the accuracy rates of congruent condition was higher than incongruent condition, which showed a robust emotional conflict effect. ERP revealed N350-550 and P700-800 components in the incongruent minus congruent condition. N350-550 might be related to conflict resolution and response selection; P700-800 might be related to post-response monitoring.